Starting device for gas-engines.



A. B. FOWLER. STARTING DEVICE FOR GAS ENGINES. APPLICATION TILED DBO. 31 1900. RENEWED NOV. 22, 1906.

990,854. Patented May 2, 1911.

3 SHBEITSSHEET 1.

65 E ,2 5 6 E5 if??? 9 d E f 1 E I P 2 E as i k E E 7 W/ 7/1/5552 //v VE/V 70H v 1 A. B. FOWLER. STARTING DEVICE FOR GAS ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED 1330.31, 1900. RENEWED NOV. 22, 1906.

Patented May //v l/EA) 727R 6,

ALFRED B. FOWLER, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND.

STARTING IlZlIFVICE FOR GAS- ENGINEb.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Application filed December 31, 1900, Serial No. 41,038. Renewed. November 22, 1906. Serial No. 34%,66

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that T,,LLLFRED B. FOWLER, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Central Falls, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting Devices for Gas-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an im provement in devices forstarting gas engines. The object of my inventionis to make a starting device'for gas engines which will impart a fewrevolutions to the main shaft of a gas engine or .to a shaft geared therewith in order to empty the cylinder, draw in and compress a charge of the explosive mixture, after which the gas engine starts run? ning. i s

It sometimes occurs that uponthe first revolutions of the main shaft the engine may not start and it is the object of my invention to make astarting device which, if the engine does not start on the first trial, will. be arranged to start the engine again. I

Another object of my invention is to provide the starting device with automatic mechanism for winding up the device and for holding it wound up ready for use when it is again desired to start the engine.

' To the above end the present invention consists of the device for starting gas en gines hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred form of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan of my improved starting device; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line :r-m of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an'end elevation looking from the left-hand end o-f Fig. 1; Fig. 1 is a sectional detail taken on the line 1/- 7/, Fig. 1, lookingin the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5 is an end elevation looking from the righthand end of Fig. 1, and Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate details hereinafter described.

The shaft 1 is the main shaft of the engine to which my invention is attached, or it isa shaft geared with the main shaft of the engine, which, for convenience, will hereinafter he termed the engine shaft. 'A gear 2 is mounted on the engine shaf and adapted to be coupled to it by means of a connecting clutch 3 (see Fig. .5), which, when the spring the gear is rotated in the direction of the arrow 4., automatically engages itself with the shaft land rotates it in the direction of said arrow. The specific form of connecting clutch illustrated is a one direction roller clutch in which a boss 5, secured upon the shaft, is provided with flattened surfaces 6 between which flattened surfaces and the cylindrical inner surface 7 of a boss on the "gearQ are interposed rollers 8 which are normally pressed by springs 9 into position to be wedged between the cylindrical surface and the flattened surfaces The above-described arrangement is such that when the gear 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 4:, the rollers 8 cramp between the flattened surfaces 6 and the cylindrical surface 7 and cause the boss 5 and with it the shaft 1 to he i rotated in the same direction. If the gear 2 now comes to rest, the rollers 8 free themselves and the shaft rotates without imparting any movement to the gear 2. This gear 2 is the me dium through which 1 apply power to the engine shaft in order to give it a few revolutions in order to start the engine.

Adjacent to the engine shaft is mounted a spring shaft 10. Secured to the spring shaft is a gear 11 which meshes with the gear 2 on the engine shaft. A spiral spring 12 having one of its ends secured to the spring shaft and the other of its ends secured to a stationary support, operates when it is desired to start the engine to impart a rotary motion to the spring shaft by means of which the gear 2 and the engine shaft is rotated. Any sort of spring may be employed forthis purpose, but I prefer to use a heavy, spiral, steel spring. One end of the spring is secured to the stationary support 13 and the other end of the spring is secured to a pin 14 laterally projected from a spring plate 15 mounted upon and splined to the springshaft 10. The spring plate is provided with an elongated hub'l ti and the exterior of the hub receives the gear 11 to-which it is secured by a spline. The above described. arrangement is such that when the shaft 10 'is permitted to rotate, 12 acting through the spring plate 15 will rotate the shaft 10 andthe gear 11 which in turn will rotate the engine shaft and gear 2. Means are provided for holding the shaft 10 from rotation and I prefer to employ for this purpose a holding clutch 17 of which one member, as the cup the springshaft stationary. 'It is to be noted'that. the spring shaft rotates in they direction of the arrow 21 when the spring is unwinding and it is starting the engine, that the spring shaft is held stationary during the timethe device is -1dle, and that the spring shaft rotates in the direction of the arrow 22 when the spring is being wound ,up. As aconsequence. of

these conditionslit' follows that means must be provided to hold the clutch 17.closed durment with the c and a yoke 24 ing the winding up of the springand during thetimethe device is idle and for holding it open when it is desiredto'startthe engine. The sleeve 20, therefore, is the means through which the power is applied to Wind up the spring and to hold it Wound up during -the time the device is idle.

'Means are provided acting normally. to hold the clutch 17 closed. These means are described as follows :-A grooved-collar 23 is secured to the plunger 19 of the clutch 17 provided with twojpins engaging the groove of the collar is provided for moving the plunger into and out of engage f p 18,,thereby opening and- .closing the clutch 17. w The yoke 24: is me revolubl y part of the frame; between a' projection 28'on the frame and the lever 25 actsnormally to close the clutch 17 by moving the lever 25 to the right into the position shown in Fig. 1. When; the lever 25 is turned to'the left against the pressure of the spring 27 the clutch '17 is opened-and the spring 12 rotates the gear 11 and starts the englne shaft. When the lever moves to the right into the position shown in Fig; 1, the clutch 17 is closed and the gear 11 held from rotation. 7

'Means are provided for holding the plunger 19 of the clutch 17 stationary and for rotating it when it is desired to wind up the spring. Secured to the sleeve 20 is the miter gear 29 which engages with a corresponding miter gear 30 secured. to the shaft 31 mounted in stationary bearings in the frame. There. is also secured to the shaft 31 a worm 'wheel 32 which is engaged by the worm 33 a mounted on the engine shaft 1. To this Worm 33 there is securedthe cup 34 of the winding-up clutch 35. The worm 33 and cup 34 are supported upon the engine shaft l'between the collars 36 and 37 which hold them from endwise motion on the shaft.- The plunger 38 is splined to the engine shaft ty and capable of longitudinal movement The spring 27 interposed said shaft and with thereon toward and from the cup 3 1. A grooved collar 39 is secured to the plunger and is adapted to be operated by the yoke .40 of a lever hereinafter referred to.

collar 41 is secured to the engine shaft 1 adjacent to the groovedcollar 39 and between the collar 41 and grooved collar 39 is interposed a spring 42 which normally' presses the plunger 38 in the direction to close the clutch 35. The clutch 35 constitutes means by which the Worm 33 may be coupled to and released from the engine shaft. The pitch of the worm 33 is such that the tendency of the spring 12 to rotate the worm Wheel 32 when the holding clutch 17 is closed will be'resisted by the wormmnd the spring shaft 10 will by this means be held from rotation. When it is desired to wind up thejspring 12, the winding u clutch 35 will be closed and the rotation of the engine shaft will, through the medium of the worm whecl 32,-shaft 31, miter gears 30gand 29,

impart rotary movement to the sleeve 20, the

plunger 19, cup 18, spring shaft-10, and ns'pr'in plate.15. After the spring has been "-woun up the winding-up clutch 35 wil'lbe o ened and the worm 33 will come to rest, t e worm through the medium of its shaft, the miter gears, the sleeve20 and the held- -ing-c lutch 17,' thereby -maintaining' the spring *wound 11p". Under these circum stances, if the engine were street and it was desired to start it, all that sary to be done would be'to 0 en the holdin clutch 17, thereby freeing t e spring sha t :10 and permitting the spring 12 to rotate it gears. 11' and 2,

would be news whereby the engine shaft would be rotated starting a gas engine, but in connection With this device I prefer to employ automatic mechanism for operating the several clutches in proper relation to each other to obviate the use of a multiplicity of levers to be used in starting the engine and windingup the spring. To the above end I have provided an automatic mechanism for maintaining the I holding and winding-up clutches open-when it is desired to start the engine, for closing the holding clutch after the engine has been given a few revolutions, for closing the Winding-up clutch after the engine has been started and for opening the windingup clutch after the spring has been wound up.

The illustrated embodiment of the automatic mechanism for operating the clutches in the manner described is as follows :The cam Wheel 43 is mounted in suitable hearings on the frame and adapted to be rotated by,

a worm 44 secured to the spring shaft 10. Upon one side of the ,rT-tm wheel 43 are mounted a series of cams 45 which are adapted to cooperate with devices for maintaining the holding clutch 17 open for'the few revolutions o'fthe spring shaft ordi- Y. 'narily necessary to start the engine. The

connections between the cam wheel 43 and the holding'clutch 17 consist of the sleeve 46 mountedin a bearing in the frame and articulated at 47 with the lever 25 carrying the yoke 24 which operates the plunger 19.

Within the sleeve 46 isi arranged a rod 48 normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the spring 49 which is interposed between the end of the rod 48 and the bottom of the recess in the sleeve 46 by which it is supported. From one side of the sleeve 46 is projected the pin 50 which is adapted to that when the rod 52 is moved in the direction of the arroW- 56 it will first pull the rod 48 in the same direct-ion unti. the collar 54 thereon comes in contact with the end: of the sleeve 46, coincident with which contact the pin will come in engagement with the end of the slot 51, and the further movement of the rod 52 in the same direction will move the lever 25 in the direction.

'to compress the spring 27 and open the holding clutch 17. Upon the opening of the clutch 17 the spring shaft 10 under the in: fluence of the spring 12 will begin to revolve and such revolutions will imparta rotary movement to the cam wheel 43, thereby bringing the cam 45 opposite a cam roll 57 mounted on the end of the rod 48 and it will thereby hold the rod 48 in the position to which it had been drawn by the rod 52, thereby holding the upper portion of the lever 25 in a position to the left of that shown in Fig. 1, and maintaining the holding clutch 17 open. The holding, clutch 17 will continue to be held open by the means described (and beyond the control of the operator toclose) until the cam 45 passes from in front of the cam roll 57, whereupon the spring 49 will force the rod 48 into theposition shown in Fig. 1, and the spring 27 will be permitted to close the holding clutch 17 through the medium of the lever 25 and its yoke 24.

It will be noted that the lever may be correctly described as a starting lever and that when it is turned by the operator it will release the spring 12 and permit it to start the engine, and that after the latter has imparted a few revolutions to the engine shaft the holding clutch 17 will be automatically closed and the spring held from imparting further revolutions to the spring shaft, thereby stopping'the rotation of the spring shaft before the spring shall be entirely unwound. The cam 45 will be so proportioned with relation to the number of rotations of the engine shaft that ordinarily the spring will be permit-ted to rotate the engine shaft two or three times after which said spring will. be automatically disconnected from the. engine shaft. Any desired number of cams-45 may be provided upon the cam wheel 48 and if upon the first attemptto start the engine should for some reason fail to start, then another pull on the starting lever 53 will set the engine shaft in rotation a second time, and another attempt will be made to start the engine. The number of cams 45 will be proportionate to the strength of the spring 12.

' It has been observed that the winding-up clutch 35 will be opened when the spring 12 is wound up, that it will be closed when it. is desired to wind up the spring and it must, of course, be opened whenever it is desired to operate the starting device. to start the engine. I have therefore provided means for opening and closing the clutch 85 at the proper times in order to secure the 'above-suggested' results. I have accomplished this result by providing the cam wheel 43 with cams and connections with the clutch 35 toopen and close said clutch, and I have also provided means for holding the clutch open when the starting device is operating to start the engine shaft. The yoke 40 hereinbefore referred to is mounted upon a lever 58 pivoted at 55;) to a fixed part of the frame and upon the opposite end of the lever'58 is carried a camroll 60, adapted to-beengaged by a cam 61 on the opposite side ofthe cam wheel 43 from the cams 45. W'henever, during the rotation of the cam wheel 43, the cam 61' comes opposite the cam roll 60, it will engage the same and 0scillate the lever 58 to open the clutch 35. This will only occur when the spring 12 is wound up as the spring willnot impart a. sulhcient number of revolutions to its shaft to rotate the cam wheel completely around to its starting point. Let it be assumed that the engine has been started, the rotation of the spring shaft will rotate the cam wheel far enough to withdraw the cam 61 from in front of the cam roll 60 and the clutch 35 will be closed by the action of the spring 42, whereupon the rotation of the worm 33 will in the manner above described operate to wind up the spring 12 and incidentally the rotation of the spring shaft will rotate the worm wheel 43' to bring the cam (31 opposite-the cam roll 60 at the time that the spring will be completely wound up,

whereupol'i the said cam will oscillate the lever 58 and opcn'the clutch 35 and the winding up Wlll cease. Here, therefore,

up clutch 35 when the starting lever ispulled to open the-holding clutch 17 I have provided the latch lever 62 which is pivoted at 63- between ears projected from jthe side of the sleeve-46. ,The lever 62is provided with a notch 63" which is adapted to receive the lever 58 when the sleeve 46 is moved to I the right of the position shown in Fig. 1.

A cam 64 is provided on the sideof the cam wheel 43",which when the cam 61 engages the cam roll 60 to oscillate the lever 58 operates coincidentally therewith to lift the Y latch lever- 62 todisengage it, from the lever "58. A spring 65 normally'operates towpifll the lever 62 into the directionto cause the notcl1 .63 to engage with the lever 58: The

. above-described arrangement is, such that holding clutch 17, thelever '62 is carried along until the. notch 63 is opposite the lever 58,'now the rotation of the camwheel 43 clutch 35, this action beingfcontributory to the more powerful spring 42. which also" when .the starting lever-is pulled to open the withdraws the cam 64 from under the lever .62 and the spring 65 pnllsvsaid lever' down tends to the same result If the engine starts, the winding-up clutch 35 being closed, the spring will be wound-11p againready for another time. If, however, the engine should not start another pull. on-sthe' starting lever would, through means of the lever 62, not only open the holding clutch -17butatthe same time open the winding-up clutch35 so that the: engine shaft can-againbe started in the same manner as before,

It is to be noted that the cam wheel 43 rotates in the direction of the arrow 66 when the device is startingthe engine, and that it rotates in the opposite direction with ,the arrow 67 ,when the spring is being wound up;

This fact requires the employment ofa bypass in connection with the cam 64 illustrated in detailin Figs. 6 and 7. The latch lever 62 is provided with a pin 68 which en- .gages with-the cam 64, the cam overhangs .55

the surface cam wheel asshown, and along. s1de the cam 64 is mounted the bypass lever 69 pivoted on the cam 64 and normally held inposition shown in Fig. 6 by the coiled spring 70., lVhen the spring shaft begins to rotate to start the engine shaft ltfmoves the cam wheel 43 in the direction of the arrow 71 as shownin Fig. 6 and thereupon the pin 68 drops off of the cam 64 and passes -un;.lerneath the lever 69. lV hen the spring 12 is being wound upthe cam 43 rotates in the dim'parting a few rev shaft while at rest, andmechanism acting I automatically to stop such work before. the

the lever 58 before'the cam 61 comes in contact with the cam roll 60- on the lever 58, so that the cam 61 may open the clutch 35 through the medium of the lever 58 at the proper time to stop the cam Wheel with the cam roll 57 .on the rod 48 in the position shown in Fig. 1.

W'hile'I have thus described a specific form" of starting device for gas engines, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to this particular embodiment of my invention, as'my invention, in its broader aspects, contemplates any form of starting device embodying mechanism acting automatically to-st'ore power While the engine is running, this stored ower to be used for dlutions to the engine stored power isexhausted so that ifthe engine fails to start on the first trial several 'suhsequent-trials may be made.

' Having thus described myl'invention I claim as new an d desire to secure by Letters ateilt of the United States of America 1;

I starting device for. gas engines, havlng, 1n vcombination, an eng ne shaft, a spur' gear, an automatically acting. one-direction clutch forseeuring the saidgear to the said shaft, a'spring' shaft, a spur gear secured to v said spring shaft in engagement with the engine shaft gear, a' spring attached at one end toa stationary support and at the othere'nd to saidsprin shaft'acting to 'drive the engine shaft tirough the spring'shaft and gears described, and means for holdinmthe spring shaft from rotation, substantially as described, p

2. A starting device for gas engines; having, in combination, an engine shaft, a spur gear,- an automatically acting one-direction clutch for securing said gear to the said shaft, a spring shaft, a gear secured to said springshaft in engagement with the engine shaft gear, a spring secured at one end to a stationary support and at the other end to said spring shaft acting to drive the engine shaft through the spring shaft and gears described, a holding clutch for holding the spring shaftfroin rotation, means for, o Jening the clutch, and means for holdin 'the clutch open during a few revolutions 'of the engine shaft, substantiallyas described.

o. A starting device for gas engines, havoil se ate ing, in combination, an engine shaft, a

spring shaft, gearing connecting the engine-v shaft and spring shaft including a clutch, a spring secured at one end to a stationary,

support and at the other .to the spring shaft,

a holding clutch for holding the spring shaft from rotation, means. for opening and closing said clutch, and steam operatively connectedwiththe spring shaft andiwith -the opening and closing means for said shaft and spring shaft including a one di rection clutch, gearing between ,the engine shaft and s ring shaft for winding up the spring sai gearingincluding a holding clutch for connecting the parts and for holding the spring shaftfroin rotation after the spring is wound up, substantially as described;

5. A starting device for gas engines, having, in combination, an engine shaft, a spring shaft, a holding clutch, gearing between the engine shaft and spring shaft including a connecting clutch, gearing between the engine shaft and spring shaff;;for winding up the spring including-a windingup clutch, a cam and connections between the cam and spring shaft and between the cam and said winding-up clutch acting to open the said clutch when the spring is wound up, substantially-as described.

6. A starting device for engines, having, in combination, an engine shaft, a spring shaft and spring, driving gearing be tween the engine shaft and spring shaft, windingup gearing between the engine shaft and spring shaft including a windingup clutch, and connected mechanism operating automatically toclose the winding-up clutch after the spring has been partially or wholly unwound in starting the engine, substantially as dcscribed.

7;;A starting device for gas engines, havnig, incombination, an engine shaft, a spring shaft, a spring, a holding clutch for the spring shaft, winding-up gearing between the engine shaft and spring shaft including a winding-up clutch, connected mechanism operating automatically after the holding clutch has been opened to prevent the winding-up-clutch from being closed while the holding clutch is open and for closing the holding clutchwhen the winding-up clutch is opened, substantially as described.

8. A starting device for gas engines, having, in con'ibination, an engine shaft, a spring, means for connecting "the spring to and disconnecting it from the shaft a plurality of times to impart a plurality of starting inipulses, gearing for winding up the spring, and automatic mechanism for a connecting the winding up gearing with the spring after the spring has imparted an impulse to the shaft and has started the engine in operation, substantially as described.

9. Astarting device for gas engines/having, in combination, an engine shaft, a spring,

means for connecting the spring to anddisconnecting it from the shaft aplurality of pulses, gearing for winding up the spring, and automatic mechanism for connecting the winding up gearing with the spring after the spring has imparted an impulse to the shaft and has started the engine in operation and for disconnecting thew-inding up gearing after the-spring has been wound up, substantially as described;

I 10. A starting device for gas engines, hav- 'ing,'in combination, an eng ir 2 shaft, a spring, gearing for rotating the engine shaft a few times b the spring and for winding up the spring y the engine shaft, means for holding the spring wound up, a hand lever for releasing the holding means, and means, such as a cam, beyond the controlof the operator for maintaining the holding means released durlng a few revolutions of the engine shaft,

substantially as described.

11. A starting device for gas en 'nes, having in combination, an engir e sha t, a spring and gearing for rotating the engine shaft a few times, gearing between the engine shaft and spring for winding up the spring including a winding-up clutch and a holding clutch, mechanism acting automatically to close the holding clutch after the spring has imparted a few revolutions to the engine' shaft and to close the winding-up clutch for I winding up the springand to open said times to impart a plurality of starting imi clutch after the spring is wound up, substantially as described.

'12. A starting device for gas engines, having, in combination, an engine shaft, a spring and gearing for rotating the engine shaft a few times, a holding clutch for holding the spring wound up, a hand lever for opening the holding clutch, automatic mechanismfor maintaining the holding clutch open' while the spring imparts a few revolutions'to the engine shaft and for closing said holding clutch before the spring is run down, substantially as described.

13. A starting device for gas engines, having, in combination, an engine shaft, a spring and connections between the spring and the engine shaft for windin up the spring from the engine shaft, and flu: imparting a few revolutions to the engine shaft from the spring, holding clutch for holding the spring wound 'up, means for opening and clutch open during'a few revolutions of the acting automatically to close the same, said means being constructed and arranged to permit the repeated openin holding open, and closing of the said hol in'g clutch, substantially as described.

Q15; A starting device for gas engines, having, in combination, an eng1neshaft,a spring and gearing for im arting a few revolutions to the engineshaft, a holding clutch for holding the spring wound up, winding-upgearing between the engine shaft and spring including a winding-up clutch,-means iunder control of the operator for opening the holding clutch, automatic mechanism operating to maintain the holding and winding-up clutches open and to close them when a fewrevolutions have been imparted to the engine shaft, substantially as described.

16. A starting device for gas engines, having,. in combination, an engine shaft, a spring and gearing for imparting a few revolutions to the engine shaft, a holding clutch for holding the spring wound up,-

winding-up gearing between the engine shaft andspring-including a wlndmg-up clutch, a cam wheel having a series of cams for maintaining the holding clutch open, for opening the winding-up clutch and for disconnecting the mechanism for operatin the holding and winding-up clutches, su stantially as described. I

17. A starting device for gas engines, having, in. combination, an engine shaft, ,a spring and gearing for .impartlng a fewv revolutions to the engineshaft, a holding clutch for holding the spring wound up, a

lever for opening and closing. theholding clutch, a spring normally tending to hold the holding clutch closed, and means, such as a cam, beyond the'control of the operator, for maintaining the holding clutch open for a few revolutions :of the engine shaft, substantially as described.

18. A starting device for gas engines, having, in combination, an engine shaft, a

rm and carin for im artin afew revolutions to the engine shaft, gearin for wiwiing up the spring including a holding clutch and winding-up clutch, means normally operating to maintain the holding clutch closed, means normally operating to maintain the winding-up clutch closed, means for opening the holding clutch, means for opening the winding-up clutch, and connections between I said means for maintaining the winding-up' clutch open when the holding clutch 1S opened to 'start'the engine shaft, substantially as described.

19. A starting device for gas engines, having, in combination, an engine shaft, 9. spring and gearing for imparting a few revolutions to the engine shaft, gearin for winding up the springincluding a hohding clutch and a winding-u clutch, means tending normally to maintain the holding clutch close l, means tending normally to maintain the winding-11p clutch closed, a' hand lever for openin the holdin clutch, and means for maintaining the hol ing'clutch 0 en for 'afew revolutions of the engine sha connections between the means for opening the holding clutch and the means for opening the winding-up clutch acting to hold the winding-upclutch open when the holding clutch is opened to start the engine, and a cam for disconnect-ing said means, substantially as described.

20. A starting device for gas engines, having, in gombination, an engine shaft, a spring/for imparting a few revolutions to the/ehgine shaft, gearing for winding up the spring including locking means for holding the spring wound up, and automatic mechanism for maintaining the locking means open while the spring is imparting a few revolutions to the engine shaft, for permittingjt e; lockin means again to hold the spring from ten ing to impart motion to the gearingafter'the spring 1s wound up, substantially as described.

21. Astarting device for gas ehgines having, in' combination, an engine shaft, :1

spring for imparting a few revolutions to the engine shaft, gearing for winding up the springincluding oclr'ing means for holding the spring wound up. and automatic mechanism for throwing the locking means into operation after the spring has imparted a few revolutions to the engine shaft and be fore it has entirely unwound and for starting the winding-up gearing, substantially as described. Y

22. A starting device for gas engines, having, in combination, an engine shaft-fa spring and connections for winding up the spring by the engine shaft and for imparting a few revolutions to the ,engineshaft and automatically stopping such work before the power stored in the spring is exhausted,

substantially as described.

23. A starting device for gas engines, having, in combination, an engine shaft, a spring and connections for imparting'a few revolutions to the engine shaft, gearing beengine shaft, for starting the winding-up gearing, and for stopping the winding up,

' spring and spring shaft, and connections for imparting a few revolutions to the engine.

shaft from the spring shaft, gearing' for storing power in the spring including automatically acting locking means for. holding the spring shaft from rotation, and means for automatically starting the gearing to store power in the spring after said spring and its connections have imparted a fewrevolutions to the engine shaft, substantially as described.

25. A starting device for gas engines, having, in combination, an engine shaft, a spring, a spring shaft, connections between said shafts including an automatically act ing one-direction clutch, a clutch for holdifng the spring shaft from rotation, means or acting means for holding said clutch open during a few revolutions of theengine shaft, substantially as described.

26. A starting device for gas engines.

having, in combmation, means'acting automatlcally to store power while the engine is running, and means for applying said power to the-engine shaft to impart thereto a starting impulse and for automaticall cutting off said power before. it is exhausts substantially as described.

27. A starting device for gas engines, hav ing, in combination, means for storing power while the engine is running, means for ap' plying said stored power when the engine is at rest to start the engine, and automatic mechanism for disconnecting said power before it is exhausted, substantially as ,described.

28. A starting device for gas engines, having, in combination, a spring, means for storing power in the spring while the engine is running, and means for connecting the spring to the engine to apply the stored power to the engine to impart thereto a starting impulse, and means for disconnecting the spring from the engine before the nism for disconnecting said power before it is exhausted, and automatic mechanism 'for setting the power storing means in operation when the engine has been started, substan tially as described.

opening said clutch, and automatically 30. An engine starter comprising an enorgy-storing deviceadapted to impart rotative impulses to the engine, means for automatically stopping the operation of said energy-storing. device at predetermined intervals and means controlling said mechanism designed to bring the same into and out of operation. i

81. The combination with an engine hav ing a crank shaft, of an energy-storing 'de* vice connected to said shaft and adapted to' impart rotative impulses thereto, means for automatically stopping the energy-storing device at predetermined intervals, and means controlling said mechanism designed to bring the same into and out of operationa 32. The combination with an engine having a crank shaft, of an energy-storing device connected to said shaft and adapted to impart rotative impulses thereto, means for automatically arresting the energy-storing device previous to the exhaustion of its energy, and means controlling said mechanism designed to bring the-same into and out of operation.

'33. A starting device for gas engines, having, in combination, an engine shaft, a spring, gearing for rotating the engine shaft a few times by the spring and for winding up. the spring by the engine shaft, means for holding the spring wound up, a lever for releasing the holding means, and means such as a calm-beyond the control of-the operator for maintaining the holding means released during a few revolutions-of the engrne shaft. Y

34-. A starting device for gas engines, having, in combination, an engine shaft, a spring and gearing for rotating the engine shaft a fewtimes, a holding member for I holding the spring wound up, a lever for re leasing the I holding member, automatic -mechanism for maintaining the holding member released while the spring imparts a few revolutions to the engine shaft and for returning said holding member before the spring is run down.

35. A starting device for gas engines, having, in combination, an engine shaft, a spring and connections between the spring and the engine shaft for windin up the spring from the engine shaft, and for imparting a few revolutions to the engine shaft from the spring, aholding member for holding the spring wound up, means for releasing and maintaining released the holding member for a few revolutions of the engine shaft and for automatically returning said member before the spring is run down, and

, when the means for releasing the holding member is again operated, for again maintaining the holding member released during a few revolutions of the engine shaft, and

for again automatically returnings'aid holding member.

36. A starting device for gas engines, hay 111g, in combination, an eng ne shaft, a spring and connections between the spring and the engine shaft for winding up the spring from the engine shaft and for imparting a few revolutions to the engine shaft from the-spring, a' holding member for holding-the spring Wound up, means for releasing and ma ntainlng released the holding'member for a few revolutionsof the engine shaftand then acting automatically to engine shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signarevolutions to the engine shaft, a holding member for holding the spring Wound up winding-up gearing between the engine shaft and sprin including a Winding-up clutch; means un or control of the operator for releasing the holding member, automatic mechanism operating to maintain the holding member released and the. winding-up clutch open andto return the holding;- member and close the winding-up clutch when a fewrevolutions have been nnparted to the ture, in presenceof two Witnesses.

' ALFRED B. FOWLER. Witnesses: I

HENRY B. MnToALF, EUGENE A. TINGLEY.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

